Pneumatic tube system y-tube diverter construction

ABSTRACT

A Y-tube diverter construction for multiple station pneumatic tube systems. A Y-tube section having a main and two branch legs is mounted within an airtight housing and is provided with a pair of slots throughout the tube section main and branch legs formed by recesses provided in the Y-tube main and branch leg walls. A pair of guide members alternately extend through the slots and provide connecting portions between the main leg and one of the branch legs. A slide plate alternately diverts the air flow between the main leg and a selected branch leg, which, in cooperation with the guide members, enables a carrier to travel in either direction through the main diverter leg and a selected branch leg.

Ekama PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM Y-TUBE DIVERTER CONSTRUCTION Inventor: Pieter J. Ekama, Malvern, Ohio Assignee: Diebold, Incorporated, Canton,

Ohio

Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Oct. 31, 1989, has been disclaimed.

Filed: June 12, 1972 Appl. No.: 261,928

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 115,181, Feb. 16, 1971, Pat. No. 3,701,496.

Us. Cl. 243/29, 243/38 rm. Cl. 865g 51/24, 865g 51/04 Field of Search 243/29, 38

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1972 Ekama. 243/38 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Att0rney-John H. Bishop et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A Y-tube diverter construction for multiple station pneumatic tube systems. A Y-tube section having a I main and two branch legs is mounted within an airtight housing and is provided with a pair of slots throughout the tube section main and branch legs formed by recesses provided in the Ytube main and branch leg walls. A pair of guide members alternately extend through the slots and provide connecting por tions between the main leg and one of the branch legs. A slide plate alternately diverts the air flow between the main leg and a selected branch leg, which, in cooperation with the guide members, enables a carrier to travel in either direction through the main diverter leg and a selected branch leg.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures YMENTED RUY 27 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEU NOV 27 I975 SHEET 3 OF 3 ihllll II II I PIC-3.5

""SSQ FIGJO PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM Y-TUBE DIVERTER CONSTRUCTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No. ll5,l8l, filed Feb. 16, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,70l,496, issued Oct. 31, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention related to pneumatic tube systems and particularly to Y-tube diverter constructions for such systems. More particularly the invention relates to a Y- tube diverter construction which may be placed at various locations in a single pneumatic tube, multiple station system for diverting a moving carrier between either of two branch legs of the Y-section and the main leg, regardless of the direction of carrier travel. The Y- tube diverter may be installed in a variety of positions tocooperate with the particular direction in which the connected pneumatic tubes extend, and may be controlled by a variety of elecrical control systems.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of structures and mechanism are used in pneumatic tube systems for diverting a moving carrierfrom a main line into branch lines at a Y-section.

Deflector structures are used at many terminal stations deflectors consist of curved lever arms or flap-like members which project into the Y-section or are hingedly mounted therein. These curved or flap-like members deflect the carrier when the carrier strikes such member and the carrier follows the members curvature while the air pressure continues in the main line and is unaffected by the deflector.

Such a deflector must be located adjacent a terminal since upon entering the branch line the carrier loses much of the propelling air pressure. Likewise, these deflectors can only be used in a pnuematicsystem in which the carrier travels in one direction through the system Various Y-diverter constructions also are used in pneumatic tube systems. A diverter is similar to a deflector except that a diverter has the added feature of diverting the air flow as well as the carrier. The leg of the Y-section not traversed by the carrier moving through the diverter is sealed off. The carrier therefore ispropelled through the Y-section into the branch leg by the system air pressure without substantial impact with the diverting member in changing the direction of carrier travel.

These known diverters generally include a flap-like member pivotally attached at the apex of the Y-tube section which is completely enclosed within the tube sections. The flap-like member is provided with surfaces to match the curvatures of the main and branch legs.

Such known diverters have several disadvantages.

Maintenance of the diverting member is extremely dif- Modern pneumatic tube systems normally only have a single tube used for both sending and receiving carriers. This greatly reduces the material cost and space required for the installation of the system. A reversible blower is connected to the tube system and provides either a vacuum or positive pressure for moving the carrier. Known Y-tube diverters are incapable of satisfactory operation when connected in a single tube system, since such diverters only permit passage of a carrier in one direction through the Y-section.

Thus, a need exists for a Y-tube diverter construction for use in a single tube pneumatic system which may be maintained easily, which is quiet in operation, and which permits a carrier to travel and be propelled in either direction through the Y-tube diverter section. No known prior Y-tube diverter construction provides an answer to these problems or provides the indicated op erating features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a pneumatic tube system Y-tube diverter construction which can be placed at various locations in a single tube pneumatic system; providing a Y-tube diverter which permits a carrier to travel in both directions in the main diverter tube leg and in both directions in the branch legs; providing a Y-tubediverter which is relatively noiseless during passage of a carrier therethrough; providing a Y-tube diverter which enables a carrier to maintain a suffic ient seal with the tube walls at all times; providing a Y-tube diverter which can be main tained or serviced easilyand in which the various components are accessible for maintenance; providng a Y- tube diverter which can be connected in various positions extending in required directions in a pneumatic tube system; providing a Y-tube diverter which can be controlled by various electrical control systems; providing a Y-tube diverter which may be easily modified and used as a deflector, and whichwill deflect a carrier traveling in either direction through the Y-section; and providing a Y-tube diverter of simple construction which achieves the stated objects in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner, and which solves problems and satisifies needs exisitng in the art.

These and other objectives and advantages may be obtained by the pneumatic system Y-tube diverter con struction, the general nature of which may be stated as including a substantially airtight housing having first and second end walls; a Y-tube section located within said housing and having a main leg and two branch legs, said main leg communicating with an opening formed in said first end wall and said branch legs communicating with a pair of openings formed in said second end wall; a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots formed in the main tube leg, each of which extends continuously from the main leg along one of said branch legs, said slots being formed by recesses provided in the Y-tube section main and branch leg walls; guide means including a pair of guide members each pivotally mounted within the housing, each guide member being generally aligned for movement through one of said tube slots; slide means slidably mounted with branch legs and the main leg; control means operatively connected to said slide means and to said guide means for coordinated movement of said slide and guide means; each of said guide means being generally triangular in shape and having two ends, a vertex, and a base extending between said ends, said base having a shape complementary to the shape of the opposide branch leg; said slide means being movable between extended and retracted positions and having plate means formed with an opening which aligns with one of said branch legs when said slide means is in extended position; said plate means formed with drive slot means; and said control means having a member engaged with said drive slot means for moving said plate means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles is set'forth in the folsystem in which the improved Y-tube diverter may be used;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the improved diverter with parts broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the guides in alternate position;

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4, FIG. FIG. 5 is a section on line 5-5, FIG. FIG. 6 is a section on line 6-6, FIG. FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7, FIG. FIG. 8 is a section on line 8-8, FIG. FIG. 9 is a section on line 9-9, FIG. 8; FIG. 10-is a section on line 10-10, FIG. 5; and FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view of the slide valve for i the diverter of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A typical multiple station single-tube pneumatic tube system is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. I and includes a central station indicated at I connected with substations 2 and 3 through the improved Y-tube diverter 4. A single main pneumatic tube 5 is connected to station 1 and communicates with branch tubes 6' and 7 which are connected to stations 2 and 3, respectively at diverter 4.

Diverter 4 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is a symmetrical Y- diverter, that is, one having symmetrically curved Y- branch legs; and diverter 4 preferably includes a number of members molded from plastic material, such as glass reinforced plastic, including an outer housing member 8 matching right and left inner tube leg forming members 9 and 10, an end wall member 11, an end wall insert 12, a housing access closure wall 13, and a slide cover member 14.

Outer housing member 8 is open at its right-hand end (FIG. 2), and is generally rectangular in cross section looking in the direction of FIG. 5. The left-hand end wall of housing 8 (FIG. 2) comprises a warped surface wall 15 having an opening 16 for coupling with a branch pneumatic tube 6a and another opening 17 for coupling with a branch pneumatic tube 7a. Wall 15 below opening 17 is formed with a shoulder 18 and then curves downwardly to the right terminating in a bottom wall 19. The portion of bottom wall 119 extending between its open end 20 and shoulder 18 has spaced ribs 21 (FIGS. 5 and 8) projecting outwardly and downwardly therefrom. Slide cover I4 may be secured to ribs 21 by screws 22.

Thus, a slide channel 23 is formed between cover I4 and housing wall I9 extending from the open end 20 to shoulder 18'. Shoulder I8 is formed with a slot 24 similar in cross section to channel 23. The end wall insert 12 has a warped surface similar in contour to that of wall 15, and also has openings therein matching the openings 16 and 17. Member 12 is mounted on members 9 and I0 spaced from wall 15 to form a continuation of slide channel 23 between members I2 and 15 extending from shoulder 18 upward to the top of member 8.

Members 9 and 10 are matching members and each has generally half-round tubular walls forming matching diverter main leg portions 25 and branch leg portions 26 and 27 terminating in assembly flanges 28, 29, 30. and 31. Recessed wall portions 32 terminating in abutting flanges 33 form slot compartments communicating with the interior of the diverter legs 25, 26 and 27.

Matching members 9 and It) may be connected together by bolts 34 which clamp abutted flange portions 29, 30 and 31 together. Assembled members 9 and 10 have end wall inserts 12 assembled thereto and this assembly is slipped inside of outer housing member 8.

After members 9 and 10 have been assembled within housing member 8 the right-hand end of the assembly may be closed by end wall II and closure wall 13 (FIG. 4). Members 11 and I3 preferably have outer flanges 35 which telescope within the end flange 36 of member 8 and the flanges 35 and 36 may by connected together, and sealed if necessary by an adhesive, by screws 37.

A connector tube 38 is inserted in the assembly (FIG. 2) communicating with the main leg 25 of the Y- diverter and, also with the main tube of the pneumatic tube system, such as member 5 of FIG. 1. Tube 38 may be coupled in any suitable manner with the system tube.

A flexible slide plate or valve member 39 (FIG. 11) is slidably mounted in the slide channel 23 and slot 24. Slide valve 39 is illustrated in retracted position in FIG. 2 wherein the end portion 40 closes the lower banch leg 27 of the diverter assembly. FIG. 3 shows the slide valve 39 in extended position wherein an opening 41 in member 39 registers with the branch leg 27, and the end portion 40 of member 39 closes branch leg 26 of the diverter assembly.

Slide valve 39 of FIG. Ill is flexible so that it can travel through the warped channel 23 and close the branch legs 26 and 27 of the diverter in positions approximately at right angles to the axes of the branch leg openings. The diverter 4 is equppped with guide members 42 and 43 which are coupled together by a connector bar 44. Bar 44 is pivotally connected by pin 45 with each guide member 42 and 43 intermediate the ends of the latter. Guide members 42 and 43 are pivotally mounted at 46 and 47 to diverter tube forming members 9 and 10. Guide members 42 and 43 thus are movably mounted within the slot compartments formed by recesses 32 in the molded walls of members 9 and 10 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5), so that one or the other of members 42 and 43 may be projected into and out of the Y diverter leg portions 25, 26 and 27.

A mounting member 48 extends between bottom wall 19 of housing 8 and the recess wall portions 32 and flanges 33 (FlGS. 5 and 8), and may be connected thereto by screws 49. Drive motor 50 and gear reduction unit 511 are mounted on member 48. A drive shaft 52 extends from gear reduction unit 31 and is fixed to one end of lever 53. The other end of lever 53 is pivotally connected by shaft 54 with one end of adjustable link 55, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 56 with the pin 45 extending from guide member 43. Link 55 (FIG. w) has an outer section 55a slidably connected to the yoke 55b, the adjusted link being clamped by setscrew 57.

The left-hand end (lFlG. 5) of shaft 54 is fixed to one end of a lever arm 58, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 59 to a rack member 60. Theteeth of rack member 60 engage rack gear 611 (FIG. 9) which meshes with pinion 62 mounted on shaft 63 and driving sprocket 641. The teeth of sprocket 64 engage in spaced drive slots or tracks 65 formed in flexible slide member 39 for moving slide member 39 through slide channel 23.

Shaft 63 is preferably journalled in a hub 66 carried by mounting member 48 and has a second sprocket 67 mounted on its other end whose teeth are engaged with another series of spaced drive slots or tracks 65 also formed in the slide valve 39 (M68).

The diverter 4 thus has a single drive means, comprising the motor 50, reduction gear unit 51 and elements driven thereby which move the guide bars 42 and 43, and, cooperatively at the same time and in a coordinated manner, move the slide valve 39 as the motor is actuated by its control switches. a

The drive means generally is lcoa'ted within the outer housing 8 but outside of the Y-tube means also located within thevhousing 8. The driving connection between the drive means and guide bars 412 and 43, includes the connector bar 44 which also is located within the outer housing 8 but outside of the Y-tube means. The pins 45 which connect connector bar 44 with the guide members 42 and 43 extend through arcuate slots 45a in the recessed wall portions 32 of Y-tube leg forming member 9(FIG. S).

The guide members 42 and 43 are projected into and out of recesses formed in the Y-tube means and when operated by the drive means, the guide members 42 and 43 direct a carrier through the Y-tube means from a main leg to one branch leg or the other, or vice versa. The guide member movement is coordinated with movement of valve means which blocks communication through the branch leg of the diverter through which the carrier does not pass.

Accordingly, the improved diverter construction provides for diverted carrier movement to or from either of two branch legs and a main leg of a Y-tube section regardless of the direction of carrier travel in a quiet and effective manner; enables a single tube pneumatic tube system to have numerous branch lines and terminal stations without substantially affecting the air flow requirements for operation of the system; enables a carrier to be diverted between a branch leg and a main leg at a Y-section smoothly and easily propelled by air flow in a pneumatic system; enables the diverter to be placed at various locations within a pneumatic tube sysused for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of the construction shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved Y-tube diverter is constructed, assembled and operated, the characteristics of the new construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Y-tube diverter construction for a pneumatic tube system having main and branch tubes including, a substantially airtight housing having first and second end wall means; Y-tube forming wall means mounted within the housing; the Y-tube means having a main leg and two branch legs; said branch legs intersecting each other and merging with the main leg, and ridge means formed at the location of branch leg intersection; means extending through the first end wall means connecting said main leg with a pneumatic tube system main tube; opening means formed in the second end wall means providing communication between said branch legs and pneumatic tube system branch tubes; recesses formed in the walls of the Y-tube means providng longitudinal slot means in said main leg on diametrically opposite sides thereof; the slot means on one side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into one of said branch legs, and the slot means on the other side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into the other of said branch legs; guide means including guide members at opposite sides of said main leg each pivotally mounted at one end within the housing and within said Y-tube means and movable through said slot means into and out of said recesses; said guide members each being formed with a carrier engaging surface matching the shape of the merging contour of the opposite wall of the Y-tube means main and branch legs; valve means movable between extended and retracted positions for selectively sealing one or the other of said branch legs against air flow through such leg and the system branch tube communicating therewith; bar means interconnecting the guide members for alternate movement of one or the other through said slot means out of said recesses; said ridge means and guide member carrier engaging surfaces providing substantially continuous engagement with wall portions of a carrier moving through the diverter to direct a carrier during movement in either direction through the Y-tube means between the main leg and one or the other of the branch legs; and drive means operatively connected to said valve means and guide means for cooperatively moving said valve and guide means.

2. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which arcuate slots are formed in the recess forming wall portions of the Y-tube means; and in which the bar means includes a bar located within the housing and outside of the Y-tube means, and pins connected with the bar and guide members extending through said arcuate slots.

3. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which each of the two branch legs is curved; and in which each guide member has a curved guiding edge matching the contour of the opposite merging main and curved branch leg contour.

4. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which a slide channel is formed in the housing walls extending into said second end wall means; and in which the valve means includes a flexible slide plate movable in said slide channel and having an opening therein adapted for alignment with the opening means of one of the branch legs when the slide plate is in extended position and with the other branch leg opening means when the slide plate is in retracted position.

5. Diverter construction as defined in claim 4 in which the flexible slide plate has a series of drive openings formed therein; and in which the drive means includes a sprocket having teeth engageable in said drive openings for moving the valve means slide plate be tween extended and retracted positions.

6. Diverter construction as defined in claim 5 in which the drive means includes motor means, lever means, and rack and pinion drive connections between the sprocket, bar means, and motor means. 

1. Y-tube diverter construction for a pneumatic tube system having main and branch tubes including, a substantially airtight housing having first and second end wall means; Y-tube forming wall means mounted within the housing; the Y-tube means having a main leg and two branch legs; said branch legs intersecting each other and merging with the main leg, and ridge means formed at the location of branch leg intersection; means extending through the first end wall means connecting said main leg with a pneumatic tube system main tube; opening means formed in the second end wall means providing communication between said branch legs and pneumatic tube system branch tubes; recesses formed in the walls of the Y-tube means providng longitudinal slot means in said main leg on diametrically opposite sides thereof; the slot means on one side of the main leg extending continuously from the main leg into one of said branch legs, and the slot means on the other side of the main lEg extending continuously from the main leg into the other of said branch legs; guide means including guide members at opposite sides of said main leg each pivotally mounted at one end within the housing and within said Y-tube means and movable through said slot means into and out of said recesses; said guide members each being formed with a carrier engaging surface matching the shape of the merging contour of the opposite wall of the Y-tube means main and branch legs; valve means movable between extended and retracted positions for selectively sealing one or the other of said branch legs against air flow through such leg and the system branch tube communicating therewith; bar means interconnecting the guide members for alternate movement of one or the other through said slot means out of said recesses; said ridge means and guide member carrier engaging surfaces providing substantially continuous engagement with wall portions of a carrier moving through the diverter to direct a carrier during movement in either direction through the Y-tube means between the main leg and one or the other of the branch legs; and drive means operatively connected to said valve means and guide means for cooperatively moving said valve and guide means.
 2. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which arcuate slots are formed in the recess forming wall portions of the Y-tube means; and in which the bar means includes a bar located within the housing and outside of the Y-tube means, and pins connected with the bar and guide members extending through said arcuate slots.
 3. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which each of the two branch legs is curved; and in which each guide member has a curved guiding edge matching the contour of the opposite merging main and curved branch leg contour.
 4. Diverter construction as defined in claim 1 in which a slide channel is formed in the housing walls extending into said second end wall means; and in which the valve means includes a flexible slide plate movable in said slide channel and having an opening therein adapted for alignment with the opening means of one of the branch legs when the slide plate is in extended position and with the other branch leg opening means when the slide plate is in retracted position.
 5. Diverter construction as defined in claim 4 in which the flexible slide plate has a series of drive openings formed therein; and in which the drive means includes a sprocket having teeth engageable in said drive openings for moving the valve means slide plate between extended and retracted positions.
 6. Diverter construction as defined in claim 5 in which the drive means includes motor means, lever means, and rack and pinion drive connections between the sprocket, bar means, and motor means. 